Bahadur (comics)

Superherobox|

caption=
comic_color=background:#c0c0c0
character_name=Bahadur
real_name=
publisher=Indrajal Comics
debut=1978
creators=Abid Surti
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
status=
alliances= Citizen's Security Force, Mukhia (local village headman), Lakhan, Sukhia (police officercite web | title = Internationalhero.co.uk | url = http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/b/bahadur.htm | accessdate = September 23| accessyear = 2006]
previous_alliances=
aliases=The Brave
relatives=Bela (wife), Vishal (Foster father), Vairab Singh(father, a deceased dacoit)
powers=None|

Bahadur (meaning The Brave) was the name of a comic book hero published by Indrajal Comics and created by Aabid Surti in 1978. Although it had been initially created by Aabid Surti a few years earlier, it was finally offered to Indrajal Comics. Aabid Surti was at that time freelancing for Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.. After he moved on, Jagjit Uppal took over the task. The artwork was illustrated by Govind Brahmaniacite web | title = Aabid Surti's website | url = http://www.aabidsurti.com/comics.htm | accessdate = September 23| accessyear = 2006] and later by B Pramod.

The comics were published in various languages including Hindi, English and Bengali. Besides regular comics, the series was also featured in dailies and weeklies along with other comic heroes.

Characters

Bahadur

The comic strip was created in Dec 1976. Dacoity was at its worst in India in 1970scite web | title = Flonnet.com | url = http://www.flonnet.com/fl2225/stories/20051216006712900.htm | accessdate = September 23| accessyear = 2006] and the Bahadur series focussed a lot on dacoits.cite web | title = NASSCOM Animation summit | url = http://www.animationxpress.com/anex/y2k5/headlines/anex149.htm | accessdate = September 23| accessyear = 2006]

Bahadur himself was the son of a dacoit Vairab Singh, who died in combat with the Police. Bahadur, then a teenager, was adopted by Vishal, the police officer who shot Vairab Singh.cite web | title = Ipcomics website | url = http://www.ipcomics.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=2397&sid=77f729e6af1ed1a0be641142e889e3bb | accessdate = September 23| accessyear = 2006]

Citizen's Security Force

Upon growing up, Bahadur set up the Citizen's Security Force that aids the police in combating dacoits. Though Bahadur dealt with many kinds of villains, he displayed a much softer corner towards dacoits trying to rehabilitate them.cite web | title = Hindu.com | url = http://www.hindu.com/yw/2004/05/22/stories/2004052200020100.htm | accessdate = September 23| accessyear = 2006] One of his assistants Lakhan was also a reformed dacoit. After surrendering to the police, he started helping Bahadur in curbing crime.

Bela

Bela is Bahadur's love interest in the comic series and very skilled in martial arts. She assists Bahadur in his missions against the villains.

Others

The other prominent characters featuring regularly in the series were Sukhiya, Mukhiya and Lakhan. While Sukhiya was a policeman, Mukhiya (meaning head of the village in Hindi) was the village leader.

Bahadur also got a dog in some of the later stories.

Evolution

The stories evolved with time and portrayed the changing face of India. While beginning with dacoits in deep ravines and the small town of Jaigarh, Bahadur later moved to tackling themes such as espionage. The town itself moved from being a small sleepy town to a modern city.

Though Bahadur's portrayal also changed with time as the artists drawing the series changed, the color of his dress remain same until 1986 when it changed to pink,also his trade mark long-hair chopped to shorter & a neat look,which gave him necessary urban look.The another change was that from an orange kurta, he moved to wearing a T shirt.This series stopped in April 1990 when Times of India cancelled the Indrajal Comics that year.

References